Right now is not the time for travel, but that doesn't mean that your family has to wait to explore some of The Secret Coast's unique attractions and experiences! Read on to explore Coastal Mississippi virtually, and when the time is right, start planning for your next trip to our 62 miles of shoreline.
For the explorers - If adrenaline and the outdoors are beckoning your family, we have the perfect virtual itinerary for you!
Biloxi Shrimping Trip
Take a trip on the Sailfish with Elementary Explorers to catch a glimpse of what this unique, 70-minute living marine adventure experience includes. Check the Biloxi Shrimping Trip's website and Facebook page for weekly video updates, a photo gallery of past cruises and fun facts about the Coastal Mississippi seafood industry.
Take a virtual tour
You can still enjoy Coastal Mississippi attractions from your home! Through Google Street View, we’re able to showcase the natural beauty of the region including links to the waterways, trails, refuge sites, piers and more that make the area so unique. Take some time to virtually experience these places and get inspired to visit Coastal Mississippi when the time is right.
Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum
With the largest Lego display in Mississippi, the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum is full of surprises! Watch this video to learn more, and check out photo galleries of the exhibits here.
Ship Island Excursions
Enjoy a virtual tour of the island here, and learn more about what's in store for a future visit here. West Ship Island is home to Fort Massachusetts, a beautifully preserved brick fortification completed in 1868. The National Park Service offers fort tours during the season the ferries operate. In addition to history, the unspoiled island provides visitors excellent birding, shelling, and hiking opportunities.
Zip’n Fun Adventure Park and Gulf Islands Waterpark
Check out the Zip'n Fun photo gallery to see which course is the right one for you here! Enjoy a virtual experience of Zip'n Fun Adventure Park here, which features a treetop course that is one of a kind, including an aerial adventure ropes course with 50 challenging games and obstacles. There is also a Junior Adventure Course, perfect for those below 60 inches tall. Harness-up and clip-in to compete 20 barely above ground challenges just right for shorter strides and reach.
After your Zip'n Fun Adventure, head to the Gulf Islands Waterpark for a virtual tour here! Attractions are endless, featuring miles of slides and celebrity meet & greets throughout the year.
Additional ideas to add to your itinerary include:
A Biloxi Shuckers game, perfect for the entire family! Study up on how to enjoy a Shuckers game like a local, then get some inspiration on how to enjoy Coastal Mississippi from Shuckers mascot Schooner. The Shuckers are even giving away a free child's ticket to a future game for students who complete the "Hit the Books" program at home! Learn more here, and take a virtual tour of MGM Park here!
Experience a tour of the largest free-flowing river in the contiguous United States aboard McCoy's Swamp and River Tours.
Take a walk on the wild side with Gator Ranch & Airboat Swamp Tours! See a preview of what’s to come on your next high-speed airboat adventure here.
Fuel your adrenaline at Finishline Performance Karting by viewing races on their Facebook page here.
Margaritaville Resort Biloxi has created free activity sheets for the family here to inspire your next trip to 55,000 square feet of family entertainment at Escape!
For the curious mind - Historical and cultural adventures await!
Biloxi Lighthouse
Virtually tour the Biloxi Lighthouse, erected in 1848 as one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South. View a live stream from the Biloxi Lighthouse to see what is happening in real-time here, and watch a short documentary on the Biloxi Lighthouse here.
Ocean Adventures Marine Park
Dedicated to unique opportunities to engage with marine life that call Coastal Mississippi home, experience one family's trip to Ocean Adventures Marine Park here and start planning your trip here.
INFINITY Science Center
Acting as the official welcome center for NASA Stennis Space Center, INFINITY offers a blend of space, Earth science, engineering and technology content, spiced with innovative programming. Check out lessons and activities on their At Home Education Page here, and visit INFINITY's Facebook page for daily fun tidbits and learning activities to do around the house here.
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
This unique experience is dedicated to inspiring children, families and communities through the arts, interactive educational experiences and exploration. In April 2016, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center was awarded the highest honor a museum can receive, the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Explore the Museum's exhibits and plan your trip here.
Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum
Experience an array of exhibits on shrimping, oystering, recreational fishing, wetlands, managing marine resources, charter boats, marine blacksmithing, wooden boat building, netmaking, catboats/Biloxi skiff, shrimp peeling machine and numerous historic photographs and objects. Check out videos that highlight a few of the exhibits on display, including the Nydia Exhibit in the Grand Hall here
The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab Marine Education Center
The Center supports a career based working environment utilizing formal, non-formal, free-choice learning and higher education strategies focusing on the coastal ecosystems of the north-central Gulf of Mexico to promote careers in marine sciences and foster community involvement. Virtually explore the Center here, and follow the Center on Facebook to engage in various STEAM education initiatives hosted by MEC educators.
Mississippi Aquarium
Although the Mississippi Aquarium is not yet complete, you can follow its progress by viewing construction updates and explore how this new attraction's mission of "telling the incredible story of all of Mississippi's aquatic resources from the Delta to the coastline and the remarkable connection that ties all of the state's natural resources uniquely together" will be accomplished. In the meantime, test your skills through digital puzzles inspired by aquatic wonders here!
For the artists - World-renowned creatives have called The Secret Coast home. If your family is interested in artistic works inspired by the Coastal Mississippi landscape, add these experiences to your virtual tour.
Walter Anderson Museum of Art
Visit the Walter Anderson Museum of Art online to gain insight into the current exhibits and to view many of Walter Anderson's works. The Museum is also offering lesson plans for students (grades 9-12). Evaluate and communicate data that explains how human activity may impact biodiversity (e.g., introduction, removal, and reintroduction of an organism within an ecosystem; land usage) and genetic variations of organisms, including endangered and threatened species. Your family can also submit an art piece here, where children in grades 6-11 are invited to submit their artistic interpretations of their local flora, in the spirit of Walter’s many Gulf Coast inspired paintings, prints, and sculptures.
Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art
Housing the works of the Mad Potter of Biloxi among many other exhibits, this Frank Gehry-designed campus is a head turner! Explore the current exhibits here, and virtually experience the campus here.
Shearwater Pottery
View photo galleries and learn more about the history of the pottery crafted by Master Potter Peter Anderson and family here. You can also buy a variety of pottery finished in various glazes directly from the website.
Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center
Explore virtual art lessons, cooking recipes, and more. Follow The Mary C YouTube channel and the Center's Facebook page to find more creative lessons.
Finish your virtual itinerary by taking a tour of the public art across Coastal Mississippi here. Once you've conquered the public art trail, create your own masterpiece (with chalk) by using our Secret Coast-inspired obstacle course template below!
